Double the Fun

Sky at start

I let Becca off lead about a mile into our trek this morning and monitored her carefully for any signs of limping.  None.  We went about twice as long as yesterday, deciding, at the junction of the trail into the lower desert and the one heading up to the road, to opt for the road, which we then followed down to the gate.  From there we hiked our normal route back to the car at the trailhead.  Depending on how Becca seems I may extend the trek a little further tomorrow.  She's had two tabs of the anti-inflammatory drug Rimadyl already, and she'll get the third at 6:00 p.m. today; one every 12 hours.

Reaching the slope

Hiking along the flank

About to enter a deep gully

Prickly Pear equivalent of a rusted-out jalopy

Higher up the flank

Layers

Parry's Agave (Agave parryi)

Parry's Agave

Closeup of the leaves and spines

Radiating outward

Closer look at the center

High on the western flank of Tortugas Mountain